Ways to Help Amidst the COVID19 Crisis

With the ballooning number of COVID-19 confirmed cases and deaths, there are many ways to help amidst the COVID19 crisis. Now, more than ever is the right time to show support to our brave frontliners, scientists, and most vulnerable sectors.

On March 12, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced the COVID-19 outbreak as a pandemic because it has become a global health and societal emergency, and has become prevalent over the world. As of this writing, there are 438,749 active cases and the total number of deaths is a whopping 19,675 already. COVID-19 is the illness caused by the virus called Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2).

This outbreak has already resulted in substantial human suffering and major world economic disruption. Businesses’ revenues are plummeting, stock markets are crashing, people are losing jobs and means of living, healthcare systems are on a brink of collapse, the world is facing shortages of Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs), and frontliners are exhausted and some of them are dying.

The Philippines already has 636 positive cases and 38 deaths. A few days ago, the government placed the entire Luzon under “Enhanced Community Quarantine”. We are called to do our own share to curb the spread of the virus by observing social distancing and proper hygiene, by sharing only reliable news and pieces of information, by not hoarding masks, alcohol, even food, by taking extra care of people at high-risk like our senior citizens, and people with pre-existing diseases and weak immune system, and by staying at home if we don’t have urgent matters to do outside. But, if you have the means to go the extra mile, this is the best time to assist our healthcare workers and other people who lost their means to sustain their daily spendings. With this, there are various ways to help amidst the COVID19 Crisis.

I’ve listed some of the fundraising campaigns and donation drives you can support:

FOR HEALTHCARE WORKERS

1. Angkas

Angkas is mobilizing its network and resources to gather donations for hospitals in most need. If you have extra food, PPEs (N95 masks, face shields, surgical gowns, gloves, etc.), and can spare some, you may let them know so they can pick these up, consolidate, and distribute to hospitals in need.

If interested, fill out the donation form.

2. Ateneo de Manila University

Ateneo DReaM Team, alongside Tanging Yaman Foundation, Simbahang Lingkod ng Bayan, and Manila Observatory, is calling for cash donations for the PPEs of our health workers.

3. CloudEats

CloudEats is a Food Drive and they prepare hot meals for hospitals/medical staff, government agencies and other frontliners. You can donate 10 bowls of cooked meals for P648, 100 bowls for P6,480, or 1,000 bowls for P64,800.

4. Help for Health Movement

The donations will able the Help for Health Movement to provide the frontliners Hugot Packs care packages. Each pack contains vitamins, power bars, hand sanitizer, personal hand soap, tissue, eco-bags, etc.

5. Kaya Natin! Movement

In coordination with the Office of the Vice President, the Kaya Natin! Movement is organizing a donation and fundraising campaign for PPEs and care/food packs for health workers and frontliners fighting COVID-19.

Each PPE Daily Set Ticket consists of one N95 mask, one gown, two sets of gloves, two pieces of head covers, two sets of shoe covers and one pair of goggles. This is only good for one (1) health worker.
You can also donate directly via online payment through KAYA NATIN! bank account:

Bank: Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI)
Account Name: KN Movement for Good Governance and Ethical Leadership, Inc.
Account Number: 3081-1173-72

Email your deposit slip to knmovement@gmail.com.

For other questions and concerns, please contact angatbuhay@gmail.com or +63 998 596 8820.

6. Philippine General Hospital 

The PGH is calling for donations of 70% Ethyl Alcohol, surgical mask, n95 mask, face shield, surgical gowns.

7. UP Medicine Student Council

The UP Medicine Student Council is calling for donations of N95 Masks and Alcohol for the PGH Interns currently on duty.

8. Globe Rewards 

You may donate your globe rewards points to their partner hospitals such as Lung Center of the Philippines and PGH Medical Foundation, Inc. Donated points shall be used to provide much-needed test kits, alcohol, and complete sets of PPEs such as surgical masks, face shields, and surgical gowns.

Download the Globe Rewards app to donate your reward points.

FOR COVID19 TESTING

1. UP Medical Foundation

The UP Medical Foundation is seeking the public’s help in fighting the COVID19 crisis. Donations will be used to purchase the PPEs needed in conducting coronavirus test, and as an additional fund to mass-produce the coronavirus testing kit that can help identify and contain Covid-19.

The U.P. Medical Foundation, Inc
Bank: BDO, Bocobo-Pedro Gil Branch
Account No: 00-353-0094-018.
Email address: <upmf1980@gmail.com>

Also, donations in the form of actual medical supplies are also welcome. The team of scientists from the UP National Institutes of Health needs the following:
– Surgical masks, N95 masks
– Surgical gloves
– Disposable lab gowns
– Shoe covers
– Infrared non-contact thermometers

Donations may be dropped off at:
CENTRAL LABORATORIES
G/F NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH BLDG.
623 PEDRO GIL ST.
ERMITA, MANILA
+63 2 2818 2659

FOR THE POORER COMMUNITIES

1. ABS-CBN’s Pantawid ng Pag-ibig

ABS-CBN launched on Thursday a campaign to assist local governments in providing food and basic necessities to poor families who are unable to source livelihood as a result of the lockdown.

2. Caritas Manila

Caritas Manila is calling for cash donations to provide Caritas LIGTAS COVID-19 kits and Caritas Manna bags to 6,000 poor communities and families in Metro Manila. The kits will include alcohol, re-usable facemasks and gloves, soap, vitamin C, rice, canned goods, etc.

3. Rice Pinas

You can order bigas and the total revenue will go to local farmers of Pampanga, Bataan, and Tarlac. Or you can opt to purchase bigas and donate a certain amount that will be used to buy hot meals for the frontliners and low/no-income families.

I know that assistance from various private companies and individuals is now pouring in, but as the number of positive cases is growing exponentially, additional aid is badly needed. The above list is just some of the ways you can do to help amidst the COVID19 crisis.

Filipinos have proven time and again that we are always ready to endure for and with each other, and I know, for sure, that this pandemic isn’t an exception.

“A life not lived for others is not a life.”

                                              Mother Teresa

Be safe, everyone. This, too, shall pass.